Anal Gland Issues and Diet

[wrx227wrc]

Hello-

I know that there have been some previous posts on this topic but I was wondering what kind of diets people have been feeding their B's that have anal gland issues. We got Piggy's emptied last week and she seems to be having problems again. We feed her flint river food which has a pretty decent fiber content (3%), has anyone had better luck on a different food? Does that usually affect the problem at all?
Just looking for any suggestions.

Jordan and Piggy

[tanza]

You can try adding canned pumpkin... (pure pumpkin, not the kind pre made for pies...)... but it is a problem I think we have all faced.... in my group, I have two that I have to express the glands at least once a month... the others... just about never.... and it seems to run in cycles...

[wrx227wrc]

Odd, thanks for the help. We have been trying the pumpkin, I just don't want to give her too much. Is 1/2 a cup about what you would recommend? She LOVES pumpkin.

[tanza]

Honestly, I never measured it... if you are feeding 2x a day, maybe a 1/4?

[Mantis]

my vet told me cheeriohs will help as well.

Honestly, my one basenji needs to be expressed once a month and the others have been fine. I have not found a lot of improvement with a change in food.

I do however suggest you have your vet do an anal expression vs. a vet tech or groomer.

There is an external expression which doesnt seem to do much for my guy.

He needs the serious anal expression where they go into the outtie place and pull from both sides ensuring the glands are really empty.

And, as I have said before,"The best money ever spent!"

[nomrbddgs]

I know I'll get hanged for this-but here goes. This is the reason why I feed veggies-fiber content and anal glands. When Sugar starts to smell stinky back there in go the veggies!!. Tons of roughage. This is the same with canned pumpkin-roughage and fibre (not enough bulk to loosen some of the anal liquid in canned pumpkin for me). As a groomer I won't do the anal gland stuff either. I don't like to do it--yuck! and as I have stated more roughage they generally empty themselves. Unless there is a medical problem.

[Mantis]

what veggies are you referring too?

[nomrbddgs]

Mine will raid the garden if I let them! Carrots, lettuce is a favorite-don't ask me why, beans, zucchini, corn (it doesn't digest but creates friction), broccoli, stir fry-basically anything I can get into them-and that they'll eat. But mine like veggies.

[tanza]

Mine love cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini, corn (and your right it doesn't digest well).... carrots (but they can be fatting... so not to many).... green beans... radishes, cucumbers, just about you name it....

[Kristin0999]

Our vet recommended sprinkling metamucil in the food, as with our basenji, if the stool is a little too dry/not soft enough it aggravates the problem. Havent tried it yet as the canned pumpkin idea works so far.

[Mantis]

isn't it funny that we all seek the secret to the perfect poo :)

[MaxBooBooBear]

isn't it funny that we all seek the secret to the perfect poo :)

My ex-boyfriend used to refer to me as the #1 poop inspector :) because I was always checking my dogs' poop on a regular basis to make sure I catch any problems early....and I didn't trust my ex's opinion--I was the final decision maker as to whether or not there was a poop problem.

[ChristyRutherford]

Squiggys "stinky butt" goes in cycles. Right now we are going through it.
I purchased some pumpkin lastnight and we will see if that clears it up. He loved it and the cats that would sneak in and get it loved it too.
Yeah, its pretty nasty and my boyfriend thinks it is sick that my dog is licking his rear all the time right now and his butt stinks. But I think he is just jealous that his french bulldog cant clean her own butt:p

[JazzysMom]

Our vet recommended sprinkling metamucil in the food, as with our basenji, if the stool is a little too dry/not soft enough it aggravates the problem. Havent tried it yet as the canned pumpkin idea works so far.

I've never had a dog w/anal gland problems, and I hope I never do. Just grosses me out thinking about it. ew. LOL.

But I think I'd stick w/adding veggies to the diet before I added Metamucil or anything like that. It's a bit more natural. Dogs in the wild do feed on berries, roots, grasses and other vegetation in addition to the meats {which of course are the bulk of the diet}. Besides, most of them love veggies -- not just Basenjis either. I've always had problems w/my gardens and my dogs. I never get quite the size harvest I anticipate at the time of planting. ;)

[luvsmy2bs]

Ok,,,,,,at the risk of sounding really stupid,,,,,,remember I am new to the basenji world (and actually the dog world) but what are you guys talking about? How do you know if a dog needs to be cleaned out? Now that I think about it ,,,,last night we took the dogs to the pond and when we got back I thought Bella still had a stinky smell to her,,,,,I assumed we hadnt washed her backside well enough but now Im not sure,,,,,,,maybe she has a poop problem!!!???? She does poop usually two times a day. How can you tell if they need more roughage and fiber?

[wrx227wrc]

The smell is unmistakable once you know what it smells like. I think it smells like dirty coins and a little fishy, like tuna in a copper can or something. My B just went into heat so I am starting to think that maybe all of the anal gland issues that we had last month may also be related to that. I switched her food a cheaper brand and she has actually had better stools, go figure. She liked the pumpkin but would eat it too fast once in a while and I would end up with pumpkin puke on the carpet, and let me tell you, pumpkin will stain quickly. She seems to be doing better though.

[basenjibratz]

Yes, it's like a metal smell--that's how we describe it. If you pup was in the pond, that might be a different type of smell. But if its an anal gland problem, you would smell a metal stinky smell and sometimes a dog will leave a little wet mark on your sofa and the smell is horrible.

I noticed with Savannah she would get that smell if she only pooped once during the day. If she didn't poop at night, I would notify my hubby and he'd go pulling out the towel so that she'll be on something other than the sofa cushion. She had her glands expressed a few months ago and the problem hasn't come back--but then again she's been going twice a day.

Also, check the ingredients on the food to see if it provides enough veggies/fiber.

[tanza]

Ok,,,,,,at the risk of sounding really stupid,,,,,,remember I am new to the basenji world (and actually the dog world) but what are you guys talking about? How do you know if a dog needs to be cleaned out? Now that I think about it ,,,,last night we took the dogs to the pond and when we got back I thought Bella still had a stinky smell to her,,,,,I assumed we hadnt washed her backside well enough but now Im not sure,,,,,,,maybe she has a poop problem!!!???? She does poop usually two times a day. How can you tell if they need more roughage and fiber?

All dogs have anal glands.. they can and do become "full" (usually a milky colored thick fluid that really stinks...) but typically they are cleared when "pooping"... however sometimes they don't... and sometimes it is due to not enough ruffage... however some dogs just don't empty them themselves.... and must be done by "humans"... typical behavior is trying to lick their butts, sitting on the rug and scooting their butts (to try and empty them)... usually that besides the smell as they will leak.. is a dead giveaway that the glands are full. And they can become impacted and burst that needs medical attention... there are lots of articles on the internet, here is just one link
http://www.animalhospitals-usa.com/dogs/anal_gland_problems.html

[elena86]

I never knew about the anal gland thing until a couple of years ago, when by former boss was telling me about his borzois. I thought that was the grossest thing I ever heard, and I felt fortunate that Senji never had that problem. Sometimes I'd see him scooting on his butt, but I thought it was just because he ate some corn. He's usually not a food thief, but he finds corn irresistable. The only time he'll climb up on the table and steal food is when there is corn up there. He'll take a whole cob and run away to hide and eat it. Corn gives him horrible "irritable bowel" the next day, but it seems to clean out his anal glands.

[wrx227wrc]

Speaking of corn, I left piggy alone for about three minutes this morning and she managed to rip a bag of caramel corn open and down about a cup of it. Luckily there wasn't chocolate or anything on it. Should be fun later today :(

[JazzysMom]

Caramel popcorn?

My three of my dogs all go CRAZY for popcorn. We have it every Friday when the family watches movies, and we have the most violent fights between the Basenjis over it. Most of the time, since Keoki moved in, those two dogs have to go outside for a while so the kids can enjoy their movie/popcorn w/out dealing with the dogs. We always make sure there is a lot left for the dogs, though.

For the record, none of the dogs ever show any bowel side effects from the popcorn gorge.

[Jodie]

Thank you, thank you for everyone who posted a response to my problem with Lillie's poop. I tried feeding her smaller amounts...the poop really didn't change. But, thankfully, pumpkin did the trick! This is a win-win situation because Lillie absolutely loves pumpkin. Thanks again for everyone's help.
Jodie:)
PS I'm still feeding her small amounts but adding the pumpkin to her food.

[ChaseandZahrasmom]

Poor DH, he was "marked" by each dog today and their anal gland secretion. Both times as they were cuddling with him on the chair watching tv. Two pair of pants in the wash, two blankets from the chair in the wash, two dogs banished from his lap.

I am so at my wits end with this, this seems to be happening almost every week, there are dark spots on the sheets when they sleep with me, on the sheets covering the couch and chair and they have gotten both DH and I.

I need to pick up some more canned pumpkin tomorrow and start mixing it into their food everyday. I am feeding them Innova EVO, I thought this was the best food to feed them.

Has anyone tried the Metamucil? I am going to have to take both of these stinky butts to the vet this week and have their glands expressed.

Grrrrrr ... :mad:

[lvoss]

What are the stools like? Are the firm stools or soft? Not all dog foods agree with all dogs. I prefer grainless foods but there are now several on the market that you can try if EVO is not working for your dogs. Wellness has a grainless food, there is Origin, Instinct, and a new one by the makers of Timberwolf Organics but I can't think of the name of the food right now. For your dogs a food with some grain might be better like Merrick's, Wellness, or California Natural. There are several high quality foods that I would consider fairly equivalent in the quality of their ingredients but some may work better for some dogs.

[ChaseandZahrasmom]

Zahra's stool seems to be nice round solid poo, same for Chase just bigger size poo.

I feel bad for them because I am sure it probably doesn't feel good if they are impacted by they are not scooting. They only lick after the have excreted it on DH. :(

Do you think because I am feeding EVO that might be the problem since it is grainless?

I thought I picked them out the best food.

[tanza]

Zahra's stool seems to be nice round solid poo, same for Chase just bigger size poo.

I feel bad for them because I am sure it probably doesn't feel good if they are impacted by they are not scooting. They only lick after the have excreted it on DH. :(

Do you think because I am feeding EVO that might be the problem since it is grainless?

I thought I picked them out the best food.

I doubt it... remember grain is really not a nature part of a dogs diet.... and you may just need to learn how to express the glands yourself... I do it for mine... and while not pleasant.. it is not a big deal...

[wizard]

My vet recommended the pumpkin (which seemed to work because the problem eventually went away :) ) or sweet potatoes. He also likes to eat cooked rutabagas (I found that out be accident when I spilled some on the floor at dinner one day). He doesn't touch fruits or raw carrots however. I read someplace that cooked oatmeal can work but I don't know if that's true or not and can't remember where I read that.

[Mantis]

I use Innova Evo small bites (not the red meat version) and mix it with the Natural Balance Sweet Potatoe and Fish and Caesar's anal glands are better. I was getting them expressed every month and now he seems to need it every 3 months.

[wrx227wrc]

We have been feeding nutro natural choice in the green bag and no rawhide treats ever, and she has been doing much better. Rarely does she have problems at all!

Jordan and Piggy

[Vanessa]

Ahhh the famous "stink stamp"
Man oah man what a smell and such a mess. Sometimes I wish their tails did not curl up...that way it would cover the back end and my furniture wouldn't stink :/
The worst is when you sit right on the ick and you don't even know it...after a while you get up and start walking around and you smell it but can't figure out where its coming from...hahahaha that drives me crazy!!!!!

[mauigirl]

I've noticed that Zip was much more excited about the pumpkin in the beginning. I don't usually mix it in (not sure why? hmm). So it's avoidable and she often leaves it in her bowl. Now, ground flax seed on the other hand goes practically unnoticed and mixes in quite well with her innova kibble and tbsp of canned evo. And I don't think it has much taste. So another sneaky way to up the fiber. I recommend it.

[lauralopez]

Nicki, how much ground flax seed do you put in their food? I never heard about using that and often we have that problem with Savannah. I noticed that if she doesn't poop at least twice a day, we can expect a little stinky butt. As precaution if she only gets walked once a day, we now automatically bring out her "stinky" towel and put it on the bed and one on the sofa where she sits with us.

I'd like to try the ground flax seed. Please let me know. Thanks.

[nomrbddgs]

The only thing I would caution in using the flax seed is that it is a grain. I know my allergic-to-everything-Boxenji has a problem with it. Almost all dog food has it in. I have to minimize the amount. You should also be able to find ground flax seed in the health food store.

[mauigirl]

Laura,

I probably put in at least a tablespoon. I don't really measure it .I just stick my hand in the bag grab some with all my fingers and sprinkle it in her bowl and then mix it in. It's much more than I can pinch between 2 fingertips, but not a handful or anything. I try not to put so much that it won't all stick to the canned food. Otherwise it just ends up on the bottom of her bowl. I hope that helps!

[lauralopez]

Thanks. I'll give it a try to see if it helps. My dogs don't like pumpkin and will just lick it and eat around it. They do like yams with whip cream but I haven't been able to find it in a can. I'll give the flax seed a try. Thanks!

[wrx227wrc]

We have also used fish oil (1/2 gel cap 2x/wk) and flax seed oil in the same dosing. I don't know if it has made a difference with the anal issue but it sure helps her coat and skin! Totally worth the money and effort.